A PhD student in Painting and Sculpture at the College of Art and Built Environment at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST),Kumasi, Ibrahim Mahama, has become the first African to top ArtReview’s annual Power 100 list.

Mahama, 38, rose from 14th place in 2024 to first in 2025, a leap that places Ghana more firmly in global contemporary art discussions.

The ranking, compiled by an international panel, assesses individuals whose work shapes contemporary art at institutional, infrastructural and social levels.

Mahama is known for large-scale installations built from repurposed materials. His works have been shown in major museums, biennials and public spaces across Africa, Europe and North America.

His practice addresses themes including labour, migration, global trade, inequality, colonial legacies and collective memory.

He often works through community-based production, collaborating with artisans, technicians and local workers to collect, stitch and construct the pieces.

Beyond his artistic work, Mahama invests proceeds from exhibitions into cultural infrastructure in northern Ghana. He has established institutions focused on education, residencies, exhibitions and community engagement.

These include the Savannah Centre for Contemporary Art (SCCA), Red Clay Studio and Nkrumah Volini.

His projects have influenced a growing generation of artists, scholars and cultural workers, strengthening Ghana’s role in the global art landscape.